SAU Teachers and Students Successfully Completed Their 2024 "SAU-PU" Summer Exchange Internship Program

From July 13th to 28th, 2024, Professor Xie Yue from the College of Veterinary Medicine led an internship team consisting of two veterinary medicine students, Fei Junxuan and Feng Yao, to successfully complete the half-month "SAU-PU International Veterinary Exchange Summer Internship". This marks the 6th exchange of summer students since the signing of the "Letter of Intent for International Scientific and Educational Cooperation between SAU and PU" in March 2005. The program aims to promote intercollegiate exchanges between our and American veterinary students, enhance the level of our students in this discipline, and foster intercollegiate cooperation in the field of veterinary medicine.

Newly Arrive and Gradually Adapt the Life

On July 14th, after arriving at PU in the U.S. and having a brief, the internship team was led by Addison Sheldon, the director of the Global Engagement Office, and project assistant Matt Winzeler, to tour the PU West Lafayette campus. They visited the PU Veterinary Hospital, especially the newly built small animal (dogs, cats) treatment center, where the well-equipped departments and advanced instruments amazed the students. The team also went to the newly constructed large animal (cattle, pigs, sheep) hospital, which strictly distinguishes between traditional farm animals and competitive animals. At the same time, the large animal hospital not only facilitates the prevention and control of infectious diseases among animals in the hospital but also provides more learning opportunities for the students' internships.

During the welcome ceremony, Dr. Kathleen Salisbury, the acting dean of the veterinary hospital, introduced the history of PU's College of Veterinary Medicine, and shared the cultivation concept behind the DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) program, curriculum design, and practical teaching components. Professor Xie Yue represented the college to introduce the development history, organizational structure, faculty strength, and discipline construction of the College of Veterinary Medicine of SAU. And he also shared the achievements in teaching, research, and international cooperation in recent years. At the end of the ceremony, both sides exchanged gifts and took a group photo.

Professor Xie Yue Introduced the College of Veterinary Medicine of SAU to Dr. Kathleen Salisbury, 

the Dean of PU Veterinary Hospital

Group Photo of Welcome Ceremony

From July 15 to 19, the internship group officially kicked off the first week of clinical rotations. Two students were assigned to different departments for their internships based on their plans, including small animal medicine, internal medicine, small animal orthopedic surgery, orthopedics, ICU/ER, cardiology, oncology, anesthesiology, and community pet veterinary medicine. During the rotation, two students not only have to participate in daily meetings and case analysis in different departments, but also assist as DVM students in various daily treatments and surgeries. Although both students have decent English listening and speaking skills, facing an all-English environment and hands-on practices without prior preparation, was quite a difficulty for them. Feng Yao, was particularly at a loss, but thanks to the patient explanations from instructors and physicians,she gradually adapted and kept up with the fast pace of the rotation.

The Internship Team from SAU

Fei Junxuan Attend the Case Analysis Discussion Meeting

Be Better off and Gain More

Time quickly reached the second week, and the two students started to face greater challenges—hands-on practice, including consultations, auscultations, visual examinations, restraint, blood sampling, parasitological checks, blood analysis, imaging analysis, and so on. They even entered the surgical theater to observe and assist. Each day was filled to the brim with departmental arrangements, leaving no time even to sit down for a sip of water or catch their breath. The unprecedented sense of fulfillment made the students feel as if they had truly become DVM students at PU. Fei Junxuan said: "The interaction patterns between DVM students and chief veterinarians in the hospital deeply resonated with me. It was always the students who took the lead in the morning meetings or case discussions after consultations, with the teachers guiding from the side. The students were always bold in expressing their opinions, without concerning they are right or not. This approach maximizes the stimulation of students' thinking, and makes knowledge easier to remember. I hope to see such collisions of thought in our classroom." What left the deepest impression on Feng Yao was the love that American veterinarians and nurses have for animals, as well as their passions for their profession. They start their work with full energy every day, and are eager to learn when facing with problems, embodying the idea that learning is endless.

Fei Junxuan's Fixation of the Dog

Feng Yao's Selfie with a Behavior Observated Dog

Fei Junxuan Weighed the Dog and Examined Vital Signs before Surgery

Feng Yao was ready to Enter the CT Room

During the internship, Professor Xie Yue bustled around the hospital every day. He not only attended the monthly meetings of the veterinary hospital and observed surgeries, but also discussed various cases with veterinarians and professors from PU. Moreover, he confirmed the internship status of each student in the team daily, and promptly assisted them in resolving all kinds of problems. With Professor Xie's help, the students' rotations became more smoothly and gained a deeper understanding of the cases they encountered. Additionally, Professor Xie also visited the PU Paralysis Research Center and the Department of Veterinary Parasitology, discussing the teaching and research of veterinary parasitology with Dr. Sriveny Dangoudoubiyam.

Professor Xie visited the Paralysis Research Center and met Dr. Riyi Shi

Professor Xie met with Dr. Sriveny Dangoudoubiyam

Balance work and Rest and Experience the Local Customs

In student's spare time during the internship, to allow the them to balance work and rest, Addison Sheldon led them to experience local games such as bowling and axe throwing, visited Wolf Park and the Indianapolis Zoo. Dr. Steve Thompson, a community veterinarian from PU, even hosted a banquet for the internship group.

Visit Wolf Park

Visit Indianapolis Zoo

Dr. Steve Thompson Introduce the Current Status of Wildlife Conservation and Development in the US

Internship Complete and See You Next Year

The two weeks passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was time for the internship graduation ceremony. Fei Junxuan spoke as the student representative, sharing insights from the internship. The two students not only experienced the training model of American veterinarians but also broadened horizons and honed skills. Dr. Kathleen Salisbury, the dean of the PU Veterinary Hospital, and former dean Dr. Willie Reed, issued the internship completion certificates to the students and congratulated the teachers and students on successful completion. At the end, they took photos with each student. During this time, Professor Xie Yue, along with Dr. Salisbury, Sheldon, the director of the Global Engagement Office, Professor Riyi Shi, the director of the Paralysis Research Center, and Dr. Jeff Ko, the anesthesiology department head who will lead the team next year, discussed the 2025 SAU-PU International Veterinary Exchange Program matters.

Group Photo of Graduation